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Observational Study
. 2022 Jul;20(7):1525-1533.e5.
doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2021.12.032. Epub 2021 Dec 27.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Vascular Liver Diseases

Anna Baiges  1 , Eira Cerda  1 , Caroline Amicone  2 , Luis Téllez  3 , Edilmar Alvarado-Tapias  4 , Angela Puente  5 , Jose Ignacio Fortea  5 , Elba Llop  6 , Filipa Rocha  2 , Lara Orts  1 , Oliva Ros-Fargas  1 , Pamela Vizcarra  1 , Kamal Zekrini  2 , Ould Amara Lounes  2 , Ghiles Touati  2 , Natalia Jiménez-Esquivel  1 , Maria Jose Serrano  1 , Angels Falgà  1 , Marta Magaz  1 , Pol Olivas  1 , Fabian Betancourt  1 , Valeria Perez-Campuzano  1 , Fanny Turon  1 , Audrey Payancé  2 , Odile Goria  2 , Pierre-Emmanuel Rautou  2 , Virginia Hernández-Gea  1 , Candid Villanueva  4 , Agustin Albillos  3 , Aurélie Plessier  7 , Juan-Carlos García-Pagán  8
Affiliations
Observational Study

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Vascular Liver Diseases

Anna Baiges et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Jul.

Abstract

Background & aims: Vascular liver diseases (VLDs) are represented mainly by portosinusoidal vascular disease (PSVD), noncirrhotic splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT), and Budd Chiari syndrome (BCS). It is unknown whether patients with VLDs constitute a high-risk population for complications and greater coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related mortality from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Our objective was to assess the prevalence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with VLDs, as well as to assess its impact on hepatic decompensation and survival.

Methods: This is an observational international study analyzing the prevalence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in VLDs between March 2020 and March 2021, compared with the general population (GP). Patients from Spain (5 centers; n = 493) and France (1 center; n = 475) were included.

Results: Nine hundred sixty-eight patients were included: 274 with PSVD, 539 with SVT, and 155 with BCS. Among them, 138 (14%) were infected with SARS-CoV-2: 53 with PSVD, 77 with SVT, and 8 with BCS. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with PSVD (19%) and SVT (14%) was significantly higher than in the GP (6.5%; P < .05), whereas it was very similar in patients with BCS (5%). In terms of infection severity, patients with VLDs also presented a higher need of hospital admission (14% vs 7.3%; P < .01), intensive care unit admission (2% vs 0.7%; P < .01), and mortality (4% vs 1.5%; P < .05) than the GP. Previous history of ascites (50% vs 8%; P < .05) and post-COVID-19 hepatic decompensation (50% vs 4%; P < .05) were associated with COVID-19 mortality.

Conclusions: Patients with PSVD and SVT could be at higher risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2 and at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease.

Keywords: Budd Chiari Syndrome; COVID-19; Portosinusoidal Vascular Disease; SARS-CoV-2; Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis; Vascular Liver Diseases.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study flowchart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age distribution of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with VLDs compared with the GP.
Supplementary Figure 1
Supplementary Figure 1
Spanish VLD cohort.
Supplementary Figure 2
Supplementary Figure 2
French VLD cohort.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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